New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on corruption charges as part of a federal investigation into campaign donations, The New York Times has learned.
The indictment is currently sealed and it is unclear what charges he will face, but the investigation has focused on whether his campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal foreign donations.
“I always knew that if I stood up for New Yorkers, I would become a target, and so I became a target. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with all my strength and spirit,” he said after learning the news, which has not yet been confirmed by the authorities.
When the indictment is made public, Adams will become the first sitting mayor of New York to be charged with a federal crime. A retired captain in the city’s police department, Adams governs the largest city in the United States and holds one of the highest offices in the country.
Adams took office in January 2022 and presented himself as the new face of the Democratic Party, promising a tough-on-crime strategy and a commitment to revitalizing the city in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. During his tenure, he has faced several challenges such as the immigration crisis or subway safety.
